Organized Options: How to Become a More Effective Employee

Back in 2008, America’s financial crisis left hundreds of thousands of people scrambling for work. It also forced many workers to reevaluate their worth in the workplace and what they had to offer. One of the most sobering thoughts is that anyone can lose their job at any time without warning. However, the best job security depends on you, and your performance as an effective employee. Use these tips to become more effective and boost your productivity in the office.

Consider Your Strengths

One of the most powerful parts of an individual involves the moment they decide to embrace their strengths and run with them. Don’t dim the lights on your personal selling points. These are probably the main reasons you earned the job. Talk to friends, family, and co-workers to find out what other strengths they see in you. If there is a common thread, continue to develop that undiscovered strength and apply it to the work you do every day.

Consider Your Weaknesses

Everyone has something they can work on. Whether it is confidence, organization, public speaking, or their typing speed, no person is perfect, and there are always opportunities to learn and grow. Be committed to your own personal development. If typing speed is really getting in the way of productivity, consider signing up for a typing course at a local community college. Sure, it will take up time in your evenings, but it may be worth the sacrifice.

Notice and Fill the Gaps

If there are places where the boss is falling behind, or a fellow employee is struggling with a specific project, try to encourage and facilitate an atmosphere that encourages teamwork. Where one person is weak, another might be strong. Use your new skills to organize a ways to spread work around more effectively. Cover for others, and help them when they’re in need. When someone is always available in a time of crisis, they become heralded as an invaluable part of a company and become more effective.

Maintain Open Lines of Communication

One of the biggest problems that can arise between employers and employees is a lack of communication. There are many times when employees get fired and feel completely blind-sided because they never saw it coming. If an employer doesn’t have the personality to be up-front and share what’s going on, it is up to a person to keep those lines of communication open. Initiate conversations about job performance, and ways to improve. This helps to clear any bad air and eliminate fears of looming unemployment.

These four tactics can be helpful for growth, job stability, and for developing better effectiveness on the job. Consider it an honor to go to work, to do a great job, and stay committed to becoming a better employee every day.

Author: Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For help getting better organization techniques check out classes for an online masters in organizational development. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.